One in five (20 per cent) of girls and young women in the UK are teased or bullied about their periods, according to new research.
This will undoubtedly be familiar to anyone who has periods, but the research making it official is groundbreaking.
Of the 20 per cent of 14 to 21-year-olds who said they have been picked on about their periods, nearly half (49 per cent) revealed that they have never spoken to anyone about the abuse.
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The study, carried out by Plan International UK, found that 67 per cent of girls said the abuse happened at school, and 66 per cent said that they have missed classes due to their period.
The study, based on a survey of 1,000 people, coincided with women and equalities minister Penny Mordaunt announcing Plan International UK as co-chair of the government's "period poverty taskforce".
The charity will work with the Government Equalities Office to try to tackle the stigma around periods.
Plan International UK's chief executive Tanya Barron said girls were "facing unacceptable stigma and shame linked to their periods".
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She added: "Not only is this damaging girls' confidence and self-esteem, it's also having an often-overlooked impact on their education. Girls tell us they are missing out on school because of their period and struggling to catch up on schoolwork as a result. We can't allow this to continue."
On the formation of the taskforce, Penny echoed: "For too long women and girls in the UK have faced unnecessary adversity around their periods, that is why we have formed this new taskforce."
The team aims to increase education around periods to make life easier for girls and women around the UK.
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Their work will also include free menstrual products and attempting to get rid of the tampon tax for good.
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